An hour later, some of my tension drained away as I clicked on the box that would summon a new cupcake stand almost identical to the broken one Colton had delivered—and it would be here within three days. Then the bells chimed, and I turned to greet the customer entering the shop. My mouth dropped open when I saw Luke standing next to the new cake display—in almost the same place Dallas had been when he’d visited earlier in the week.
My lips pressed into a hard line. “What can I do for you, Mr. Stetson?”
He smiled, and the dimple in his chin was so endearing I thought for half a second about forgiving him. Then I remembered the fried pickle I had wasted on a divorce attorney who mocked my line of work. I imagined an iron gate falling into place around my heart.
“You said I knew where to find you. Turns out, you were right.”
“Convenient, since I’m just a few blocks away from your office.”
His smile faltered, but he straightened his shoulders and glanced toward the back. I wondered if Lorea was peeking around the corner but resisted the urge to look.
“This is a nice setup you have here.” He rested his hand on the back of a cream-colored chair with turquoise buttons. It sat next to the desk where I planned weddings with my clients.
So he was going to pretend it was no big deal that I knew he was a divorce lawyer. I narrowed my eyes. Or maybe he thought I didn’t know he specialized in divorce. When I checked the business listings, it only identified him as an attorney with emphasis in family law.
“Thank you.” It came out sounding like I was clenching my jaw, probably because I was.
Luke picked up one of my business cards and then a pamphlet explaining the different types of weddings I helped arrange and the plans couples could choose. He gave a low whistle and jabbed the description of the Destination Wedding Package. “People really pay this much to get married?”
“And usually fly the wedding planner to the location two weeks before for last-minute arrangements.”
“Man, maybe I’m in the wrong business.” He started to laugh but stopped, probably because I wasn’t laughing with him.
“What do you want, Luke?”
He took a step back. “I was hoping to get your phone number so I could take you on a date. Is something wrong? You seem—uh—upset.”
“You think?” I folded my arms and tapped my right foot. The anger bubbling beneath the surface was about to explode. I ignored the voice that told me to take a deep breath. How could he ask me on a date after the way he’d mocked my wedding planning business? A niggling thought reminded me that he had apologized and rather lavishly, but I was too ticked to listen.
Luke eyed my stance and adjusted his glasses. “Are you upset with me?”
“I told you I was a wedding planner, so you purposely didn’t tell me you were a divorce lawyer.”
“Why does my profession matter?”
“I help people get married, and you help people get divorced. You don’t see any problem with that?”
“It only has to be a problem if you make it a problem,” Luke replied. “I apologized, remember? And I said I don’t believe in marriage—that doesn’t mean I think no one else should.”
Tightening my hands into fists, I could feel the anger rising. I tried to keep the venom from my voice. “Then why would you ask me out?”
“I don’t care what your job is—I just wanted to get to know you. You seemed nice.” He tossed my business card and the pamphlet back onto the desk. “My mistake.”
“What?” Flames would spurt from my mouth any second if I stayed near the creep. I couldn’t trust someone who didn’t tell the whole truth. I pointed to the door. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
Luke shook his head and dropped his hands to his sides. He turned and left my store without another word.
“Tontua,” Lorea muttered in Basque behind me. She had been peeking. “You’re better off. Dallas is a sweet guy—maybe not as good looking, but that’s what you get.” She watched Luke crossing the street. “Dang, he’s fine.”
She was right, but part of me still wondered about the initial connection I’d felt to Luke. When he’d said he didn’t believe in marriage, I thought it was just a front. Lots of guys say they’re not interested, so girls fishing for a ring won’t put them on their radar. But now, considering Luke’s occupation, maybe he really was against wedded bliss. I wondered why.
Chapter 10
Storing Your Wedding Dress
Have your gown professionally cleaned immediately after use, even if it looks spotless. Do not hang the dress. Keep it in a storage box in a room or closet with constant temperatures and humidity levels (attics, basements, and closets next to exterior walls usually fluctuate too much). Where possible, line any folds with nonacidic, undyed tissue paper. Check your dress once a year for yellowing. Always wash your hands before handling the gown.
Courtesy of www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.
After the incident with Luke, I felt doubly grateful that I had a date with Dallas to distract me from what had happened. Sylvia’s bridal shower was coming up, so I worked myself into a frenzy checking every detail and trying not to dwell on the fact that she didn’t know yet that her wedding gown was missing.
In light of the vandalized dresses, Lorea and I decided we shouldn’t wait any longer to tell Sylvia. It was Friday, so Lorea put off making the call until nearly four o’clock—hoping the weekend would find Sylvia too busy to come and personally harass us. Her fingers shook as she dialed Sylvia’s number. She kissed the Lauburu cross hanging from her neck before launching into the details of the robbery and subsequent vandalism of the gowns.
